STORM WARNING: BRONCOS LOOM AS PREMIERSHIP THREAT
STORM champion Cameron Smith says Anthony Seibold will bring the premiership glory days back to the Broncos, likening his tactical style to that of Melbourne super coach Craig Bellamy.
On the eve of tomorrow night’s season-opening Broncos-Storm blockbuster, Smith backed Brisbane’s appointment of Seibold, declaring the rookie coach can take Queensland’s flagship club to the title in his maiden year at Red Hill.
The Broncos held secret talks with Bellamy last season, and while the premiership-winning Storm coach ultimately stayed loyal to Melbourne, Smith believes Brisbane have signed the next best thing in Seibold.
The 44-year-old spent three seasons at the Storm, two as Bellamy’s assistant coach in 2014-15.
Storm skipper Smith was so impressed by Seibold’s tactical guile and man management he backed Kevin Walters’ decision to hire him as the Queensland Origin team’s assistant in 2016-17.
Seibold played a key role in the Maroons’ consecutive series triumphs under Walters and Smith believes his apprenticeship under Bellamy has taught the new Broncos coach what it takes to deliver Brisbane’s first title since 2006.
Former Queensland skipper Smith, the most-capped top-liner in NRL history who plays his 385th game tomorrow night, says Seibold possesses a Bellamy-style instinct to transform his players.
“Having coached under Craig Bellamy for several years, ‘Seibs’ will bring a lot of structure to the Broncos,” Smith said.
“That will help their young halves (Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima) in particular. He will just help to take a bit of pressure off those guys.”
Smith was an inexperienced 23-year-old captain when the Broncos won their most recent premiership, breaking Melbourne’s hearts in the 2006 decider.
Now Seibold is tasked with breaking the longest premiership drought in Brisbane’s 31-year history, and Smith believes the Rockhampton product can engineer the club’s seventh title.
“They are a good side, they have been for a long time,” Smith said.
“I think they are a real premiership threat this year.”
– Peter Badel